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What was so special about Stevan Schuler? Well nothing if you asked her. She had been asked this question in a therapy session and simply could not come up with an answer. The silence in the room save for the clicking that the clock from the wall created was her reply. "I'll take it that you don't believe that there is something special about yourself?" her therapist asked. For a moment Van glanced away as if she actually had to ponder of this question when she knew in the back of her mind she simply wanted to say 'no.' However she figured this answer would be too easy. Instead she shrugged her shoulders in a childlike manner and fiddled some with her black trench coat. The noise of her therapist’s pen against her note pad broke the silence in the room, cause Van to lift her eyes up. Neither said a word leaving Van to believe that she was possibly writing down that she had finally lost her mind. After their session, Van decided on taking a quick stroll through the park behind the office. The air had a certain crisp to the air, not too hot, not too cold that made being outside enjoyable opposed to the harsh winter and steaming summer they’d have that year. Besides she needed something to clear her mind from that dreadful session. Clearly she needed a new therapist and not one she randomly picked from Craig's list for being the cheapest in the area. Yet for the first time since she had seen this particular therapist something actually stuck with her. What made her special? As she thought of this, the cooler breeze blew across her body. Any other time she would've left afterwards but this was something she definitely wanted to think over. Something she knew she wouldn't have to think over so she went immediately back home.
The Schuler name had been well know to those in movies for ages. Her grandfather Allen Schuler had been known as a big wig in the Hollywood. You couldn't think of the perfect love story without thinking of Allen. Or maybe you could if you weren't into that type of movie. But those of an a few generations before her certainly recognized the name whenever it was said. The man had been a famous for his low budget but equally compelling, yet quirky movies. Often his films, his own words from his scripts were referred to as inspiration and quoted from the mouths of many. Along the long halls of the Schuler home had been numerous pictures of Van’s grandfather with celebrities she had only seen in old school clips. And it was those very same clips and family background that created the blueprint of who she would become over the years. "One of these days you'll see me on E! standing next to Meryl Street. Or on MTV doing something with Mariah Carey's weave." Each different description of the future Van had created in her mind was either completely far fetched or so unbelievable that people didn't listen. However it never deterred her from going on and on to her friends of what was in store for her. The girl certainly had her mind in the clouds and refused to see much different. It was in the cards right? The name she once despised so much had in turn been a blessing in disguise. What other person did you know that lived a normal life named Van? And was born on all things, Halloween? It had to be a sign right? Or at least this was something she questioned at times when those that actually listened to her never ending rant of impending stardom. Only famous people had these strange occurances or better yet odd ball names. Regardless of how many times her friends tried to bring her back to reality, it simply never worked.
Her parents hadn't said much of this because they had figured it was nothing more than a phase every child went through. Submerging herself in cheerleading, dance, a part time job at a local hair salon and balancing friendships she hadn't much time to question whether or not she was normal in the eyes of others. Instead she focused not only on her future but enjoying her teenage years. Van was often seen down the halls carrying around the biggest stack of various magazines as if she had been there studying every page for hair styles to try before the next edition. It was all in preparation she figured but she hadn't allowed so much of her future or preparing for it pull her away from the present. The thought of her friends spurred up all the times they ran along the mall picking out the perfect makeup, outfits and shoes to whatever weekend party. As well as what newest crush though only a few the girls gossiped over that had managed to catch her attention. Recluse wasn't exactly what people considered her. Her circle of friends and social status kept her busy. Yet she wasn't much of the type to go find herself at every party she was invited to. Just enough to have some fun on random weekends which was far and in between.
So where did things change in her life? As she watched the scenery before her, she suddenly pin pointed the moment. Maybe not the day but of course the moment. It had been the months leading up to the end of their senior year. While everyone had shouted down the halls about what school had accepted their applications from around the country, Van clutched hers from Rutgers close to her heart. Considered one of the best schools on the east coast, she had been proud that she was staying close to home while pursuing this dream she had mentioned throughout her entire life. But as the time continued she found the enthrallment that she initially had upon enrolling starting to wane. Slowly but surely she began to have a hard time finding an interest into anything and with that Van had came to the decision to leave college after her third year was up. It was a crazy one but one she knew. Quite naturally her parents were livid and assumed that she had left based on the initial insane idea she had before leaving Virginia for Jersey. With their disappointment, Van was utterly confused on what to do. That was until her grandfather caught wind of what was going on. He had been the only person in the family who understood the passion she had for indulging in the creativity that loomed in her mind. He had been in the same spot his granddaughter was decades before when he embarked on the movie industry. His parents hadn't fully grasped the risks he took out nor had his son who had decided to be a lawyer instead of following in his father’s footsteps. Feeling some guilty that he hadn't indulged in his granddaughter’s hopes and dreams unlike her parents, an idea came into fruition. With his name being still well known, he managed to lead Van down the path of her present day life.
Living in Los Angeles at the time, her grandfather offered to help. A few favors returned, he managed to secure Van with a career. It wasn’t much, just a front desk job at a small division at small independent film company but it was more than what she was doing as well as the first step to accomplishing so much. Van hadn't hesitated in the least bit to take the opportunity. Though the times were long and tiring, the proper networking took her from secretary to assistant. It was then when she finally figured out what exactly it was she wanted to accomplish, an old resurgence of love for creating a different look--styling hair. Maybe it wasn’t some glamorous job where she’d be hanging out with Meryl Streep but she recalled the joy she had of helping at the salon back in high school. Van wouldn’t simply do with just a small salon, no she wanted one where people would feel like a million bucks upon the sight of their reflection. There was her grandfather again coming to the rescue yet as he had before with her education, she wanted to this on her own. He had given her more than enough help, now it was her turn to actually regain responsibility for her future. The countless nights she worried over cosmetology school to the worrisome mornings that she sat at the table glancing over loan applications for her building, it all paid off when her salon had it's grand opening. It wasn't anything massive, a small space on the east side of town. And she was fine with that, she was completely content with being the 'around the way' girl that had a constant shuffle of clients coming in.
The salon had certainly kept her on her toes you could say for years on end until the fledging economy took its financial and emotional told on her. With unemployment on the rise, the extra funds of her loyal clients made it hard to be so loyal anymore. For a while somehow she had kept her head above water but eventually she watched the shuffle in and out dwindle to the point that stylists began to stop renting booths. Since there weren't many people coming in to take over their rentals, it was starting to become clear that maybe...just maybe it wouldn't work anymore. All that she had left were her barbers as men surprisingly enough refused to go a week without a cut.
It unbelievably pained Van to have to closer her shop. All of the blood, sweat and tears she had put in that place, all of the laughter that echoed from the walls and good times shared was nothing more than an empty building that slowly but surely became dilapidated without the care it once had. She had spent the bulk of her adult life so far there, so much that she hadn’t a clue what she would do without it. The thought of losing her business had even put her so much in a funk that she had experienced her first bout of depression in a way that almost felt unshakable. Seeing the total change in her behavior and the lack of drive to do the simplest of things had prompted her father to help in spite of her pleas against it. He implored that she return home but Van had too much pride to do so. In an attempt to find any and every avenue other than going back to Alexandria, it was by a sheer miracle that a close friend had asked of her to come to New York where she was running a salon of her own. It wasn’t doing half bad and the woman figured that she could always use more talent to add onto the reputation of being one of the best salons in the area and she knew that could happen even more with Van in the picture. For the first time in years, Van was heading back east and was feeling that spark that she hadn’t felt in some time. It was sort of like coming back home as her father desired since most his family had hailed from Staten Island. Spending most of her summers in New York growing up, it was a welcomed change that she hadn’t expected but was ecstatic for. It was there in New York where she had gotten back on her feet much to her surprise. She may have not been manning the ship like she had in her old shop but she had found opportunities she hadn’t back in California. She had even managed to score a side gig at WNBC as it helped her afford her rent. That was one thing she had to remember about good ol’ New York—everything was much more expensive.
Ecstatic about the news of things starting to work in her favor, her usually concerned father recommended that she meet up with a therapist to hash out old problems that may still linger. The same therapist that she hadn't felt competent to answer her questions. Then again she hadn't really answered hers as well. So there it was, full circle now that she had thought of her past and now her present. It felt like a million things were on her mind but none more than that question. What Van special? Maybe that was something she'd have to figure out all in due time.
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